Morgan Pierce, head of ReferStar
A new start-up has just set up base in Dublin. ReferStar is aiming to capitalise on the burgeoning sector addressing social referral recruitment. The start-up has come up with a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that automises employee referrals by tapping into social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
ReferStar is being headed up by Morgan Pierce, who studied at New York University. She told Siliconrepublic.com that through initial seed funding and advice from Irish investor Sean Melly, ReferStar’s chairman, the start-up is kicking off with nine employees: six in Dublin, Ireland; one in Liverpool in the UK; and two in New York, US.
But it seems that expansion could be on the cards for this start-up in the near future, based on Pierce’s insights.
Pierce describes ReferStar as a SaaS solution that automates employee referrals and extends employer talent acquisition efforts. How? By utilising some the major social networks – think LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook – to find the right hire to fill a vacancy.
The way ReferStar will work, according to Pierce, is by drawing on one’s tapestry of contacts across their social media ecosystem. This would encompass employees, alumni, customers and suppliers from networks such as LinkedIn, and friends and family from platforms such as Facebook.
She said the goal of the software is to help companies “dramatically” reduce their costs and improve the efficiency of their recruitment efforts.
“ReferStar is leading the new wave of online technologies leveraging social media channels to disrupt candidate acquisition efforts in the recruitment process.”
Earning for referrals?
ReferStar will also allow anyone to refer a job and potentially earn a referral fee for finding the right candidate through employees and recruiters.
Morgan said she believes ReferStar will be in a “strong” position to grow its portfolio to tackle the referral recruitment sector.
Paolo Bafico, sales director of EMEA at ReferStar, will head up the start-up’s Liverpool office.
One Irish firm that is already using ReferStar’s software for its hiring process is Deloitte. The audit, tax and consulting firm employs around 1,200 people in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
Rose Mary Hogan, resourcing manager at Deloitte Ireland, said she believes the ReferStar solution will help the firm when it is seeking to attract and recruit talent in a more “proactive and innovative” way.
